HomeMy WebLinkAboutDNR expression of interest
Park Commission
Date: 4/20/09
Item: 3
ITEM: Consideration of an”Expression of Interest” to the Minnesota DNR Metro
Greenways Program for Sunfish Lake Park prairie restoration and the
development of a natural resource management plan.
REQUESTED BY: Carol Kriegler, Project Assistant
Kathy Widin, City Forester
_______________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Minnesota DNR’s Metro Greenways program was established to protect, connect and restore
natural areas in the Twin Cities metropolitan region. The program provides grants through a
competitive process to local units of government to protect, restore, and enhance high quality
natural habitats as well as to develop natural recource-base plans, policies, and practices to
conserve the region’s natural heritage. Sunfish Lake Park is within the Metropolitan
Conservation Corridors Area and is therefore eligible to participate in the program.
Metro Greenways restoration project grants provide funding for 50% of total project costs. The
program also offers grants for the development of natural Resource Green Infrastructure Based
Plans. Reimbursement for the conservation planning grants is 75%. Carol Kriegler and the City’s
Forester, Kathy Widin met with the Metro Greenways grants program administrator to gain further
information regarding the grants eligibility requirements and priorities. Expressions of interest are
due May 15, 2009. Once funding levels for the program have been established by the legislature,
applicants will be asked to submit a complete grant application. It is anticipated that funds will be
awarded in the summer of 2009 with the requirement that expenditures be complete by June 30
of 2011.
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTED:
The Park Commission is being asked to support the submittal of two Metro Greenways Grant
Program “Expressions of Interest”. One grant would be for the development of a natural resource
management plan for the entire park while the second one would be for a restoration grant for
Area 2 of the park
1. Natural Resource Management Grant
Summary:
Sunfish Lake Park is an area with significant natural features, wetland, woodland, and grassland
plant communities which have become degraded over time, primarily through colonization by
invasive plants. Water quality, wildlife habitat and enjoyment of the park by users have been
reduced as plant diversity and habitat quality have decreased. These native plant communities
are still at a point where they can be improved with planned conservation management. Such
management will result in improved wildlife habitat and water quality with the added benefit of
improved aesthetics for park users.
Goal: To assess current status of park natural resources and prepare a long-term management
plan to address ways to improve the plant communities so that they function to protect water
quality and improve wildlife habitat.
Objectives:
1. Survey the existing plant communities to determine species composition
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and degree of disturbance/degradation
2. Survey presence of invasive plants and degree of invasiveness
3. Develop management protocols for invasive plants
4. Develop plans for re-planting and establishing native tree, shrub and ground-layer plant
species
Partners: The City of Lake Elmo, Valley Branch Watershed District, Washington Conservation
District, private ecological restoration firm
Project Costs: (cost estimate at this time)
Entity Estim. Hourly Rate Estim. Cost
Hours
K. Widin, Forestry Consultant 100 $50./hr $5,000.
Plant Ecologist (private firm) 75 $65./hr $4,875.
Wash. Conserv. Dist. 20 $60./hr $1,200.
(wetland specialist, staff)
Total estimated cost for mgt. $11,075.
plan (grant request =
$8,306.25
2. Restoration (Improvement) Grant
Summary:
Area 2 of Sunfish Lake Park is a 20 acre parcel that has been in agriculture for a number of
years. Most recently the area has been planted in corn. The very nearly finalized Conservation
Easement for the park calls for this area of the park to eventually be restored to a plant
community native to the area. An ecologist has recently identified small areas within the park as
mesic prairie. .Restoration of the area to a native plant community will result in improved wildlife
habitat, increased plant diversity and improved aesthetics for park users and residents.
Goals:
To restore the area currently being cropped to prairie.
To develop and implement a native planting at the parks entrance and along the drive into
the park that would be somewhat organized and educational in nature.
To develop and implement a plan for the parking area that would define the area and prohibit
cars from entering other areas of the park.
To develop and implement a plan for a filter strip and raingarden along the north side of the
parking lot that would filter run-off and protect water quality of Sunfish Lake Park.
Partners: The City of Lake Elmo, Valley Branch Watershed District, Washington Conservation
District, private ecological restoration firm, conservation groups.
Project Costs: (cost estimate at this time)
Improvement Activity Entity Cost
Prairie Restoration installation ‘09 Private firm $37,000
Prairie Management ‘10 Private firm $9,000
Prairie Management ‘11 Private firm $5,000
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Entrance / driveway native WCCD $1,200
planting, raingarden, parking area
planning and design.
Parking lot improvements, Private firm / $5,000-8,000
raingarden implementation conservation
group
Entrance / drive native plantings $5,000
Additional Budget Information:
The total cost of the Sunfish Lake Park improvement projects is anticipated to be about
$65,200 through mid summer of 2011.
While only the prairie restoration portion of the project is technically eligible for grant funding,
representatives of the DNR have indicated a willingness to accept expenditures related to the
other improvements (entrance – driveway plantings, parking lot, raingarden), towards the 50%
match on the prairie restoration costs. In addition, representatives of Valley Branch Watershed
District have expressed a good possibility that any improvements related to protecting / improving
water quality would be eligible for a community cost share grant of 50%. Therefore, it’s possible
that the city’s share of the total improvement project could be less than 50% of the total project
cost.
A note about the prairie restoration - - this estimate is based on a seedling cost of $1,200-1,400
an acre. The estimate does not include the planting of seedlings. The planting of seedlings
results in a more “showy” prairie sooner. Seedlings can be purchased for about $.90 a piece.
Conservation and volunteer groups can be utilized for the actual planting.
ACTION REQUESTED:
Request that staff submit two Metro Greenways Grant Program “Expressions of Interest”. One
grant would be for the development of a natural resource management plan for the entire park
while the second one would be for a restoration grant for Area 2 of the park
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